The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 97
PT. 16 ṬĀHĀ CH. 20 قَالَ خُذْهَا وَلَا تَخَفْ سَنُعِيدُهَا God said, “Catch hold of it. 22 سِيرَتَهَا الْأُولى and fear not. We shall restore it to its former condition. 2253 وَاضْمُمُ يَدَكَ إِلى جَنَاحِكَ تَخْرُجُ And draw thy hand closer. 23 under thy armpit, it shall come "7:109; 27:13; 28:33. three different words for describing the turning of the rod of Moses into a serpent, viz. as in the verse under comment; as in 27:11 and 28:32; and as in 7:108 and 26:33. The word is of general application and is used for all categories of serpents; means a small serpent; and generally means a bulky and long serpent. These words apparently seem to have been used haphazardly at various places in the Quran, but in reality there is no haphazardness, or arbitrariness since the word has been used from the point of view of the serpent's quick movements and from the point of view of its large size. Moreover, when the mere fact of the turning of the rod into a serpent is mentioned the word as is used, but when the rod turns into a serpent in the presence of Moses alone the word (a small serpent) is used. When, however, the miracle of the rod turning into a serpent is shown in public before Pharaoh, the magicians and the people, the word (a large and bulky serpent) is used. The significance of these different words on different occasions would be different. The word as (root-word () signifies that a dead people (Le) as, to all intents and purposes, the Israelites were, would receive a new 2011 and vigorous life through Moses and the word (a small, fast moving serpent) signifies that from a small and decadent community, they would make rapid progress and would become (a large and bulky serpent) for Pharaoh and his people i. e. they would become the means and instrument of their destruction. The verse purports to say, and the history of the Israelites bears testimony to the fact, that whenever Moses happened to become separated from his people they became, as it were, serpents i. e. they relapsed into idol-worship and other abominable practices. For an exhaustive explanation of the miracle of the rod turning into a serpent and its spiritual significance see 7:108. Suffice it to say here that it was a vision which Moses had seen and in which Pharaoh, his courtiers and the magicians were also made to share. The rod did not actually turn into a serpent but was merely made to appear It, therefore, contradicted or contravened no law of nature. like one. 2253. Commentary: Moses is here comforted that his people would not remain permanently wedded to idolatry and other evil practices but the instant they came